Coffee maker



Feb. 25, 1936. H. FRANK I COFFEE MAKER Filed Feb. 5, 19:55

INVENTOR HUGO FRA N 4/ ATTO NEY.

Patented F eb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE COFFEE MAKER HugoFrank, Hartford, Conn., assignor to The. Silex Company, a corporation01' Connecticut Application February 5; 1935, Serial No. 5,087

25 Claims..

My invention relates to coffee makers.

It has among its objects to provide an improved resilient seal of thetype adapted fir use in connection with glass coffee makers of thevacuum type and having improved internal and external sealing structuredisposable between the neck of a lower bowl and the depending stem of anupper.

bowl during the coffee making operation. A further object of myinvention is the provision of a seal of the above type which can be moreeasily slipped on and off the stem while providing improved sealingengagement with the latter; and,

more specifically, such a seal having an improved stepped axial passagefor receiving and sealing the stem, and providingrelatively thinyieldingly supported wall portions normally spaced from the stem. Astill further object of my invention is the provision of a seal body ofresilient material having an improved external sealing area adaptedjamming of the seal in the'neck. These and other objects and advantagesof my improved seal construction will, however, hereinafter more fullyappear.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown for purposes of illustrationtwo forms which my invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing,-

Figure 1 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of a coffeemaker equipped with my improved seal, the upper and lower. bowls beinglargely broken away;

Fig. 2 is a view of the seal of Figure 1 removed from the stem, and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modified construction.

Mv inventionis shown herein applied to a coffee maker comprising a lowerbowl l-having an upstanding bell-mouthed neck 2, and an upper bowl 3having a depending, and usually tapered, stem 4 extended into the neck 2of the lower bowl,

my improved seal being disposed onthe upper,

portion of the stem 4 adjacent the bottom of bowl 3 and, with the stem4, disposed in the neck-2 of the lower bowl. I

As in previous constructions, the seal comprises a, generally tubularbody 5 of resilient material such as soft, live rubber or the likehaving an axial passage 6 which engages and seals the -4. The seal alsohas adjacent its upper end a laterally extending flange terminating in athin cdge l which forms the upper limit of an external sealing areawhich is adapted to be received in and seal the bell-mouthed neck 2.

l'In accordance with the present inventiomboth the external sealing areaof the seal body and the axial passage 6 for sealing the stem are of animproved construction and cooperate with the bowl neck and stemrespectively in a new and improved manner.

Considering first the new axial passage 6, it

will be noted that the same, as illustrated in Figures l and 2, is ofsubstantially uniform diameter at the upper end thereof, conforming toand pro- 35 viding a relatively long band of sealing engagement 8 withthe stem 4. Below'this band, the passage is formedwith receding annularstepped surfaces 9, leading to the lower extremity of the passage 6, ofwhich two are herein shown, forming spaced annular edges ll) ofincreasing diameter toward the lower end of the passage. From aninspection of Figure 2, it will be evident that the annular surfaces 9being of larger diameter than the sealing surface 8 thereabove willremain largely out of contact with the stem 4 or, if enaging the samelightly at the edges ill, will offer little resistance as the seal isworked up on the stem or subsequently removed therefrom;

Referring particularly to the external surface of the seal, as shown inFigures 1: and 2, it will be noted that two sealing areas are provided.Oneis an upper concave sealing portion ll directly beneath the edge I,which conforms generally to the curve of the bell-mouthed neck 2 and theotheris a lower sealing area extending from the curved portion I I tothe lower end of the seal body. The upper sealing area H engages saidneck 2 on the upper flared portion thereof only when a bowl isencountered ,of slightly larger neck diameter than that illustrated inFigure 1. Ina lower bowl of normal neck diametenas illustrated in thisfigure, the concave sealing portion ii ,is slightly spaced above theflared mouth of the neck, and the seal is obtained on the lower sealingportion above mentioned at substantially the most constricted portion ofthe bowl neck. a As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lower external sealingarea above mentioned, which is 50 slightly tapered as shown in Fig. 2and more abruptly tapered when the seal is in place on the tapered bowlstem 4, is provided with an annular recess, or groove, l2. The sidewalls of 1 this groove being generally symmetrical and extendingoutwardly from spaced points along the bottom of the groove, formyielding spaced generally symmetrical annular sealing bands I6, I!

of slightly different diameter extending around the outer ends of thesewalls. Herein, it will also be noted that the walls of the groove are sospaced from one another as to prevent possible contact when flexedduring use and resultant increased resistance to longitudinal movementin a bowl neck. Also, the groove herein is also of such depth as to forma relatively thin wall portion I3 yieldingly supported out of contactwith the stem by the annular edges Ill. Further, due to stretching ofthe seal required to insert the upper end of the tapered stem 4 in thepassage 6 thereof, the pressure of the stem on the sealing portion 8fiexes the thin wall portion I3 so that the groove I2 has a convex outersurface I4 which, with the upper and lower annular edges I 6 and I1formed by the groove, provides three vertically spaced bands of contactwith the convex throat of the neck 2. The wall portion I5 below thegroove I2 is also relatively thin and is also yieldingly supported,adjacent the edge I0, out of engagement with the stem 4. It will also benoted that the internal annular edges ID are disposed in horizontalplanes within the vertical limits of the groove I2 and closely adjacentthe upper and lower extremities thereof.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 3, I have shown the seal bodygenerally indicated at 5a having an axial stem sealing passage 6a.

The seal of this figure also has the external, an-

nular flange terminating in the edge la constituting the upper limit forthe external sealing area He, merging into the lower generally taperedsealing portion which in this construction is free from grooves, such asgroove I2 of Figures 1 and 2.

The axial passage 6a has the lower stepped surfaces 9a forming theannular edges Illa and also has an upper band of sealing engagement 8awith the upper bowl stem, corresponding somewhat to Figures 1 and 2.Inthe' construction illustrated in Figure 3, and also in that of Fig--ures 1 and 2 if desired, the sealing band Ba can be much abbreviated bythe formation of a deep axial recess I8 at the upper end of the sealbody, leaving a relatively short sealing band 6a intermediate the endsof the seal body Here it will be noted that the sealing band Be, Whenthe seal is on a bowl stem and is in position in a lower bowl neck,occupies a position somewhat above the point of maximum constriction ofthe lower bowl neck, thus leaving the relatively thin yieldinglysupported wall portions I5a.and I3a, which enter the throat portions,free to yield readily as in the previously described Figures 1 and 2.

In the use of my improvement, the stem is first inserted in the passage6 of the seal, and the seal is worked well up onto the stem to a pointadjacent the bowl 3 using a combined axial and rotary motion. Duringthis operation, the seal is considerably expanded pausing the internalsealing portion 6 to hug the stem and effect a good seal. The edges IDat the lower end of the seal engage the stem, due to the fact that thetapered stem at this point is larger in diameter than the lower steppedsurface 9. As will be evident from Figure 1, the stepped surfaces 9,however, except at their edges I6, are

' spaced laterally from the stem; thus supporting the thin flexible wallportions I5 and I3 yieldin of different diameter.

ingly out of contact with the stem by the contact of the edges I0.

The upper bowl stem with the seal thereon is next inserted in the lowerbowl, the seal being given a slight twisting motion in the lower bowlneck, if necessary, by rotation of the upper bowl to eflfect an airtight seal with the neck, although with my improved seal such rotationis usually not required. With a neck such as shown in Figure 1, thelower annular sealing edge I6, formed by groove I2, will easily passthrough the constricted portion of the bowl neck, due to the yieldingnature of the thin wall portion I5, permitting the upper sealing edge Hof said groove to engage said neck at some point slightly above the mostconstricted portion thereof, it being noted that the upper sealing edgeI'I, being located on a relatively thick wall portion of the seal body 5which is in firm engagement with the stem, will yield less readily thanthe yieldingly supported lower edge I6 above mentioned. Accordingly, twovertically spaced bands of sealing engagement with the bowl neck 2 areprovided by the edges I6 and I1. Further, it will be noted that due tothe shape of the wall porwhile the lower half of the seal passage issubstantially out of contact with the stem, and'the wall of this lowerhalf is relatively thin, the same is adequately supported on the stem bythe annular edges II) in such manner as to permit the lower externalsealing area to yield readily. Further it will be noted that the portion8 of the seal body which engages and provides the seal on the stem, andhence is less yieldingly supported on the stem, is located above thepoint of maximum constriction of the lower bowl neck, and that the lowerpart of the seal which is disposed can occur, is so supported out ofcontact with the stem as effectively to yield and prevent such jamming,while also effectively sealing the neck.

Attention is also directed to the fact that the ceptacles. Thus in theillustrative bowl shown in Figure 1, three vertically spacedbands ofsealing engagement are provided at I 4, I6, and I I without requiring aforcible entry of the seal into the restricted portion of the neck, dueto the yielding support of the wall portions I3 and I5 above described.It will be evident, however, that the same seal can be accommodated inbowls having considerably smaller and larger neck diameters while stillenabling the seal at one or more of the three points to be obtained.This is due in part to the ability of the inherently resilient andyieldingly supported wall portions I5 and I3 to expand into engagementwith the lower bowl neck while the same are free to be compressedinwardly when inserted in a neck of small diameter, and also to theprovision of the sealing bands I6 and I1, here- Attention is alsodirected to the structure and arrangement of these sealing bands I6 and.II which enables them to seal effectively, selectively or together, inbowl in the neck portion, where jamming of the seal necks of diflerentdiameter irrespective of the form of axial stem aperture provided'in theseal. Further, the spacing of the walls thereof herein is such as toprevent the increased or built up resistance to longitudinal movement ofthe seal arising from contact of the walls with each other experiencedin prior grooved seals. It will further be noted that in theillustrative structure, the use of a generally symmetrical grooveenables generally symmetrical sealing bands l6 and I! of diiferentdiameter to be formed which present vertically spaced yieldable bandsadapted efl'ectively to engage and seal bowl necks of different;

' described two forms which my invention may assume in practice, it willbeunderstood that these forms of the same are shown for purposes ofiilustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied invarious other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope ofthe appended claims.

What I claim as new and Letters Patent is:-

l. A seal for coilee makers or the like comprising a seal bodyofyieldable material having an external sealing area receivable in a lowerbowl neck and having an axial passage adapted to receive and seal anupper bowl stem, said passage having a sealing portion and having alo'werportion of increasing diameter extending to the lower end-of saidpassage.

2. A seal for coifee makers or the like comprising a seal body ofyieldable material having an external sealing area receivable in a lowerbowl neck and having an axial passage adapted to redesire to secure byceive and seal an-upper, bowl stem, said'passage having a portionconforming to and sealing said stem and having an enlarged stepped axialrecess below said sealing portion extending to the lower end of saidpassage.

. 3. A seal for coilee makers or the like comprising a seal body ofyieldable material having an external sealing area receivable in a lowerbowl neck and having an axial passage adapted to receive and seal anupper bowl stem, said passage .having a' portion conforming to andsealing said stem and having below said sealing portion-an axial recessof increased diameter at the lower end of said passage having a steppedsurface providing a plurality 01' annular edges between said stemsealing portion and the lower end of said seal.

4. A seal-for coil'ee makers or the like comprising a seal body ofyieldable material having anaxial passage adapted to receive and seal anupper bowl stem, the lower end of said passage having an enlargeddiameter providing a deep axial stepped recess at the lower end of saidseal body and having a more constricted portion thereabove adapted toengage and seal with a bowl stem.

5. A seal for. coflfee makers or the like comprising a seal body ofyieldable material having upper and lower external sealing surfaces andhaving an axial passage adapted to receive and seal an upper bowl stem,said passage having an upper sealing portion inside said upperexternalsealing portion and an enlarged axial recess of increasing diameterextending to the lower end of said .passage inside said lower externalsealing portion.

6. A seal forcoflee makers or the like comprising a seal body ofyieldable material insertable in a bowl-neck and having an axial passageadapted to receive and seal an upper bowl stem, 7

the wall of said passage having an upper stem sealing portion and alower portion comprising an enlarged axial recess of increasing diameterand of maximum diameter at its lower end providing a relatively thinflexible wall for said seal body engageable with a stem when sai sealbody is inserted in a bowl neck.

'7. A seal for cofiee makers or the like comprising a sealing portion ofyieldable material having an axial passage and having an externalsealing area receivable in a lower bowl neck, said sealing area havingan annular groove intermediate its extremities of such width as to spacethe walls of said groove out of possible contact when flexed and havingspaced contact bands around the edges of said groove.

8. A seal for coffee makers or the like comprising a sealing portion ofyieldable material hav-v ing an axial passage and having an externalsealing area receivable in a lower bowl neck, said sealing area havingan annular groove intermediate its extremities provided with wallsextending outwardly from spaced points along the bottom of said grooveand the edges of said groove forming I spaced contact bands at theouter'ends of said walls.

9. A seal for cofiee makers or the like'comprising a sealing portion ofyieldable material having an axial passage and having an externalsealing area receivable in a lower'bowl neck, said sealing area having agenerally symmetrical groove intermediate its extremities providinggenerally symmetrical spaced annu ar sealing edges and having generallysymmetrical outwardly extending wall portions carrying said sealingedges.

10. A seal for coilee makers or the like comprising a'sealing portion ofyieldable material having an axial passage and having an externalsealing area receivable in a lower bowl neck, said sealing area havingspaced annular sealing edge portions carried on adjacent outwardlyextending walls substantially spaced out of possible contact with oneanother along the length of said area, and a surface portion of reduceddiameter intermediate said edge portions and connecting said adjacentwalls.

ll. A seal for coflfee makers or the like comprising a .seal ,body ofyieldable material having an axial sealing passage-and an enlargedrecess below the same andalso having an external-sealing area receivablein a lower bowl neck, said sealing area having a single enlarged groovetherein positioned opposite the upper end ot said recess.

' 12. A seal for c'oflfee makers or the like comprising a seal body ofyieldable material having an axial sealing passage and-having anexternal.

sealing area receivable in a lower bowl neck, said sealing area havingan annular groove intermediate its extremities providing spaced contactbands at the edges of said groove and upon' flexure of said groove anintermediate contact band between said edges.

13. A seal for coflee makers or the like comprising a seal body ofyieldable material'having an axial sealing passage and having anexternal sealing area receivable in a lower .bowl neck, said exterhalsealing area having spaced contact bands and a reduced portiontherebetween and said sealing passage having means for enabling fiexureof said intermediate portion.

14. A seal for coffee makers or the like comprising a seal body ofyieldable material having an axial sealing passage and having anexternal sealing area receivable in a bowl neck, said sealing areahaving spaced annular sealing edges and said axial passage having acommunicating enlarged recess enabling flexure of said sealing area topresent an intermediate sealing band between said sealing edges.

15. A seal for coffee makers or the like comprising a seal body ofyieldable material having an axial sealing passage and "having anexternal sealing area receivable in a bowl neck, said sealing areahaving spaced annular sealing edges and said axial passage having anenlarged recess below the same having a step below one sealing edge andabove the other.

16. A seal for coffee makers or the like comprising a seal body ofyieldable material having an axial sealing passage and having anexternal sealing area receivable in a bowl neck, said sealing areahaving spaced annular sealing edges and said axial passage having anenlarged recess below the same having a step below one sealing edge andabove the other and a further enlarged recess below said step.

1'7. A seal for coffee makers or the like comprising a seal body ofyieldable material havin an external sealing area receivable in a lowerbowl neck and having an axial passage adapted to receive and seal anupper bowl stem, said passage having a stem sealing portion adjacentthetop of said seal and an enlarged axial recess at the bottom of theseal providing a lower thin flexible wall portion, and said externalsealing area having a single enlarged annular groove in said wallportion opposite the upper'part of said recess.

18. A seal for coffee makers or the like comprising a seal body ofyieldable material having an external sealing area receivable in a lowerbowl neck and having an axial passage adapted to receive and seal anupper bowl stem, the wall of said passage having an upper stem sealingportion and having a lower axially recessed portion providing recedingstepped surfaces forming vertically spaced annular edges, and saidexternal sealing area having an annular groove in the vicinity of saidsealing edges.

19. A seal for coffee makers or the like comprising a seal body ofyieldable material having an external sealing surface and having anaxial passage adapted to receive and seal an upper bowlstem, the wall ofsaid passage having an intermediate stem sealing portion and havingupper and lower axial recesses of increased diameter and respectivelyhaving walls of increasing and decreasing thickness.

20. A seal for coffeemakers or the like comprising a seal body ofyieldable material having an external sealing surface and having anaxial passage adapted to receive and seal an upper bowl stem, the wallof said passage having an intermediate stem sealing portion and havingupper and lower axial recesses of increased diameter, one of saidrecesses having annular stepped surfaces providing a plurality ofannular edges.

21. In a vacuum type coffee maker, an upper bowl having a stem, and aseal of yieldable material having an axial passage adapted to receiveand seal said stem, said passage having an upper band of sealingengagement with said stem and having a lower axially recessed portion ofincreasing diameter extending to the lower end of said passage andproviding a yieldingly supported wall portion of reduced thicknesslaterally spaced from said stem.

22. In a vacuum type coffee maker, an upper bowl having a dependingstem, and a seal of yieldable material having an axial passage adaptedto receive and seal said stem, said passage having an upper bandofsealing engagement with said stem and having a lower enlarged axialrecess extending to the end of said passage having a stepped surfaceproviding a plurality of annular edges between said sealing band and thelower end of the seal.

23. In a vacuum type coflee maker, an upper bowl having a dependingstem, and. a seal 'of yieldable material having an axial passage ofsmaller diameter'than said stem adapted to receive and seal said stem,the wall of said passage having an upper stem sealing portion and alower stepped portion forming vertically spaced annular edges engagingsaid stem.

24. In a vacuum type coffee maker, an upper bowl having a depending.stem, and a seal of yieldable material having an axial passage adaptedto receive and seal said stem, said seal having a relatively thick upperwall portion providing a sealing band of engagement with said stem andhaving its axial passage recessedat the lower end of the seal to providea wall portion of decreasing thickness extending to the lower end ofsaid seal and having supporting engagement with said stem at verticallyspaced points, the portions of said wall between said vertically spacedsupports being spaced from said stem.

25. In a vacuum type coffee maker, a lower bowl including an upstandingneck having a throat portion terminating in a bell mouth, an upper bowlhaving a depending stem receivable in the neck of said lower bowl, and aseal of resilient material having an axial passage receiving and sealingsaid stem and also having an external sealing portion receivable in saidneck,

said seal having a lower wall portion of reduced thickness yieldinglysupported out of contact with said stem and having an external annulargroove in said yieldingly supported wall portion forming a plurality ofvertically spaced narrow annular bands of sealing engagement with saidlower bowl neck. HUGO FRANK.

